Four-wheel-drive truck.



D; S. STEWART.

FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE TRUCK.

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{1511015 213 Patented July 28, 1914,

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D. S. STEWART. FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE TRUCK.

APPLIUATIOH FILED JAN.19,19M.

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D. S. STEWART. FOUR-WHEEL Dani: TRUCK. APPLICATION riLBn mime, mm L 4 hgfi fg filgq Pabemed July 28, mm.

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UNITED STATE PftENT OFFICE.

mm 8. mm or an rroo, Wisconsin, ASSIGNOR orons-rnntn 'ro mam: A. sacrum, or ANTIGO, WISCONSIN, AND ONE-THIRD ro NORMAN c. woomn. or screams, WISCONSIN. 1

FOUR 'WHEEL-DBIVE TRUCK.

1 $05,218, Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J uly 28, 1914,

hppllcatlon tiled January 19, 1914. Serial No. 818,101.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Dawn 8. S-rswaar, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Antigo, in the county of Langlade and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in FourlVheel-Drive Trucks; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention refers to heavy duty motor-driven trucks, its object being to provide :1 simple, durable and economical truck of the above character wherein the four wheels are positively driven through the medium of simple gear connections from the source of ower.

Specific objects of my invention are to rovide a. counter-shaft carried by each axle in gear connection with the truck wheels and a,centrall disposed power-shaft; to provideeaeh ax ewith apivot mechanism to ermit free swing of the same whereby steer mg is effected; to provide coupling connections in connection with the power-shaft, the couplings being 'alined with the axle p1vots, whereby freedom of motion is pernntted with respect to said axle; to provide means for trunnioning the front axle whereby the i same is capable of vertical oscillation as well as horizontal swing; to rovide a skeleton main frame havin rigitly secured thereto an underslung sa dle for the support of steering mechanism, the said sadcle being provided with forwardly and rearwnrdly extended arms constituting a lower support for the axle iivot-pins, the upper pivot-pin support for the same being formed in a bolster that is carried by the skeleton frame; to l rovido hollow axles for the truck-wheels} into which are nested the universal coupling 5 members of the power-shaft; to provide means for rigidly suspcndin the main section of the power shaft mm the main 9 frame, and to rovide a simple, economical ence to the nccom anying drawings and subsequently claimet.

In the drawings Figure 1 represents a plan view of a truck embodying the features of my -invention with parts broken away and in section to more clearly illustrate Stllltllllfli features; Fig. 2, a longitudinal central section of the same; Fig. 3, a

truck-frame and its axle connection, the sec tion being indicated by line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a detailed sectional plan View of the front axle showing its trunnion connection with a pivoted or swiveled head, and Fig. 5, a detailed cross-section through the truck-frame illustrating the steerin mechanism, the section being indicated by iine 5-5 0 "i". 2.

Refiirring by characters to the drawings, 1, 1, represent the side sills of a rectangular main frame, to the central portion of which side sills are bolted the upwardly extended side walls 2 of a saddle 3, the same being underslung with respect to the main frame. The saddle is also provided with forwardly and rearwardly extended arms 3', 3", respectively, which arms terminate with apcrtured boxes 4, 4', as best shown in 2. The main frame side sills have secured thereto transversely disposed pairs of angleiron struts 5, 5, adjacent to the ends of said frame. Each pair of these struts have fitted thcrebetween a centrall apertured block 6. 6, which blocks. togetier with the struts constitute bolsters. The front bolster block 6 is adapted to receive the upper pivot pin 7 of a hollow head 8, the said head being also provided with a lower )ivot-bin 7' that is swiveled within the saddle arm box 4. Thus said head is capable of horizontal swing within certain limits between the bolster and saddle arm. The front and rear walls of the hollow head 8-are provided with circular apertures for the reception of circular hollow trnnnions 9. 9', which trunnions extend from the side walls of a hollow axle 10, the said axle beine interposed between the side walls of the head and to permit assemblage of the axle the heads is formed with a lower detachable cap portion 8' which is bolted or otherwise secured i to the upper portion of the head, as best 3. The hollow axle 10 terstandard spindle sections,

and effective exible steering gearmecha' nism, whereby the front and rear axles are simultaneously swung upon their pivots to effect a steering movement, thus permitting the truck to turn within a small circumferential space.

With the above and other minor objects in view the invention consists in certain peculiarities' of constru'ctiou and combination 1 shown in of parts as hereinafter set forth with referl mmates wit detailed sectional front elevation of the' upon which are loosely mounted traction wheels 11, the same carrying internal gearwheels 12. By this trunnion connection between the swivel head 8 and the axle 10, it is pends from one of the sills of the front The rear end of the power-shaft.

apparent that said axle is capable of both vertical and horizontal swing relative to its supporting frame, whereby the said axle may be. swung for steering and is also capable of vertical oscillation to accommodat uneven r'sad conditions.

{The forward hollow trunnion 9 of the front axle has secured thereto a housing 13, which housing in effect constitutes a part of the axle and has journaled therein aspindle ll, one end of said spindle extending into the axle, while its opposite end has secured thereto a beveled pinion 15. The inner end of the spindle is coupled to the inner end of a power-shaft 16 by means of a universal coupling cross 17, the said inner end of the power-shaft being extended through the rear hollow trunnion 9 and is journaled in a hanger 18, which hanger debolster. is similarly journaled in a hanger 18' that depends from the corresponding strut 5 of the rear bolster mechanism. The rear hollow axle 10 carries an upper pivot-pin 19,

tured for the reception of and a lower pivot-pin 19, which pivot-pins are respectivelyinounted in the apertures of the rear bolster and the box 4 of thesaddlearm. This axle in other respects is similar to the" forward axle, bein centrally aper the rear end of the power-shaft 1-6, which rear end is connected to a second spindle 14: by a coupling [cross l7"',"i t being understood that the couplingjconnections between both spindle sections of the power-shaft are in axial alinement with the pivot-pins of their respective lines. The rear spindle section le'is likewise journaled in a housing 13, which housing extends from the hollow axle. The said "which counter-shafts carry pinions at their ends that mesh with the rear-wheels of the respective pairs of trIction wheels. Each counter-shaft 21 is provided with a housing- 23, which housing is interrupted by a centrally disposed gear casing 24: for the reception of a compensating gear mechanism 25 of the ordinary type, said compensating gear being fixed to the interrupted sections of the counter-shaft. The com- I pensating gear in each instance is provided with the usual beveled gear-wheel 25 one of which meshes with the beveled pinion 15 of the front power-shaft spindle section, while the rear beveled wheel 25' of the corresponding counter-shaft mechanism meshes with a beveled pinion 15 that is secured to the outer end of the rear spindle 14: and, in order 'to add to the rigidity of the counter-shaft drive mechanism, the gear casings 24, inconnection with the front and rear axle mechanisms, arfi'each secured to their respective housings 13,13.

Each side wall. 2 of the-saddle'dcarries a pair of guide-sheaves 26, 26', the front set of guide sheaves 26 being adapted to engage a pair of forwardly extended steering cables 27, which cables are connected to the ends of the front axle through the medium of coiled spring sections 28. The rear pair of guide sheaves form guidesfor similar cables 27' which are connected to the rear axle by coiled springs 28. p The ends of these four cables areconnected to a spider 29, which is centrally disposed with relation to the saddle, the said spider being carried by chain sections 30, which chain sections ex tend in opposite directions. and pass .over guide-sheaves 31 that are mounted in the side walls of the saddle. The chain sections thereafter extend upwardly and are coiled about and secured to a winch-shaft 3:2, which winch-shaft is journaled in the side-wall of said saddle and carries a worm-"wheel 33 that is adapted to engage a worm 33', the same being mounted u on a steering rod 34, whereby the steering mechanism just described is manipulated. By this arrangement it is apparent that when. the steering rod is rotated in either direction that it will cause the winch-shaft tqwind up one of the chain sections 30 and unwind the opposite chain section to thus shift the position of the spider 29vtransversely, whereby one of the forward steering cables and one of the rearward steering cables will be drawn inwardly to thus swing the traction wheels to which the are indirectlv'connccted in a corresponding position. whereby the truck is turned, it being understood that a reverse movement of the steering rod will cause a corresponding reverse movement. of the traction wheels, whereby the vehicle is turned in the opposite direction. It is also apparent that, owing to the coiled-springs, a yieldable connection is effected between the cables and their respective axles, where'- b v' shock is absorbed nd the steering apparatus is rendered more sensitive.

The main section of the power-shaft 16 carries a gear-wheel 35, which gear-wheel meshes with a pinion 35 .that'constitutes one member of a gear train, not shown. the saine being mounted in a box .36 that is secured to the side sills 1, 1, of the main frame. Thismechanism forms no part of my invention and is manipulated by the usual shift mechanisms, not shown, whereby the truck driven at different a eeds and reversed. I

Power is impartet to the gear train carried in the transmission box 230 from tho crank-shaft 37 of an engine 38,the easing of which engine is connected in a suitable manin either direction for guiding the truck without imparting any \uidue strain upon the driving gear owing to the fact that the power-shaft is provided with front and rear couplings in alinement with the pivot points upon which the axles swing It will be. further observed that, owing to the trunnion connection of the front axle and swiveled head 8. said front axle is capable of vertical oscillation about the powershaft to permit compensation under uneven road conditions, this elasticity being provided for the purpose of eliminating undue strain upon the truck mechanism, whereby said truck will utilize its power economically and the life of the same will be materially lengthened.

I claim:

1. A truck comprising a main frame having front, and rear apeitured bolsters, a saddle rigidly suspended from the central portion of the frame having forwardly and rearwardly extended arms provided with aperturcd hubs in alinemeut with thcbolster apertures, hollow axles carrying upper and lower pivot-pins eugageahle with the holster and arm box apertures. front and rear hangers depending from the bolsters, a powershaft mounted in said hangers having its up posite ends extended into the hollow axles, a spindle journaled in each hollow axle, and a coupling eonneiaion between each spindle and juxtaposed drive-shaft end, the coupling connta-tious being alincd with the axle pivotpins. wheels loosely mounted upon the axles, anda counter-shaft carried by each axle in gear connection with its wheels and the related powcr-sha ft spindle.

2. A truck comprising a main frame having front and rear apertured bolsters, a saddle rigidly suspended from the central portion of the frame having forwardly and rearwardly extended arms provided with uperturcd boxes in alinemcnt with the bolster apertures, a horizontally apertured hollow head having upper and lower vertically limos-ed pivot-pins extending therefrom en-- gageable with the front bolster and )uxtaposed aperture of the saddle arm box. a 'hollow front axle having trunnions engageable with the horizontallv disnoseu head apertures, a rear axle provided with upper and lower )ivot-pins extending there mm ongageabie with the rear bolster and arm box apertures. front and rear hangers depending from the bolsters. a. power-shaft mounted in said hangers having its opposite ends extended into the hollow axles, a spindle journaled in each hollow axle, and a coupling connection between each spindle and juxtaposed drive-shaft end, the cou ling connections being alined with the ax e pivot-pins, wheels loosely mounted upon the axles, and a countershaft carried by each axle in gear connection with its wheels and the related power-shaft spindle.

-3. A truck comprising a main frame. having front and rear aperturcd bolsters, a saddle rigidly suspended from the central portion of the frame having forwardly and rearwardly extended armsprovided with apcrtured hubs in alinement with the bolster apertures, hollow axles carrying upper and. lower pivot-pins engageable with the bolster and arm box a ertures. front and rear hangers depending romthebolsters,a power-shaft mounted in said han ers having its opposite ends extended into t to hollow axles, a spindle journaled in each hollow axle, and a coupling connection between each spindle and JllXftlPUSfltl d rive-shaft ond, the coupling connections 'twingalined with the axle pivot pins, wheels loosely mounted upon the axles, a counter-shaft carried by each axle in gear soiineetion with its wheels and the related power-shaft s indle, and steering mechanism mounted in tie saddle having flexible eonncctions to the ends of each axle.

4. A truck comprising a frame having front and rear apcrtured holsters. a saddle rigidly secured to the central portion of the frame having forwardly and rearwardly extended arms provided with apertured hubs in alinement with the bolster apertures, a horizontally apertured hollow head provided with upper and lower pivot-pins engagcable with the front holster and aperture of the saddle arm box, a hollow axle provided with horizontally disposed trunmons engageable with the horizontally disposed apertures of the hollow head, a hollow rear axle-having it per and lower pivot-pins extending there rom engagcable with the rear bolster aperture and box apertnpe of the sad dle arm, front and rearhangers depending from the bolsters, a power-sha ft mounted in the hangers having its ends extending into the hollow axles, a spindle jonrnuled in each hollow axle, couplin s connecting cach spindle and juxtaposetl )UWLP-Slttlft. end, the couplings being alined with the axle trunnions, brackets extending from the front and rear axles, a counter-shaft carried by each set of brackets, a gear connection between each counter-shaft and the juxtaposed spindle, traction wheels loosely mounted upon each axle, toothed gear-wheels carried by the traction wheels,- pinions carried by the pair of counter-shafts engageable with the toothed gear-Wheels and a steering mecha- 10 nism carried by the frame for simultaneously swinging the aforesaid front andrear axles.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at Antigo in the county of Langlade and State of Wisconsin 15 in the presence of two witness es.

DAVID S. STEWART.

Witnesses: f

WALTER S. Rowmnson, JOHN W. Bnowws. 

